Wayanad (Keralam), Oct 14 Cheruvayal Raman, the Padma Shri award-winning tribal farmer who devoted his life to preserving traditional rice varieties in Keralam, died at the age of 74 while undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Wednesday, family sources said.
A native of Kammanam in Mananthavady, Raman was widely known for protecting more than 45 indigenous rice varieties that were at risk of extinction. He followed traditional organic farming methods for decades and worked to pass on the region’s agricultural heritage to future generations.
Born on June 6, 1952, as Thalakkara Cheriya Raman, he began concentrating fully on farming at the age of 10 after completing his primary education at Kammanam Navodaya Lower Primary School.
His passion for agriculture was such that he turned down a government job at the Kannur DMO office in 1969.
Raman, who belonged to the Kurichya tribal community, also preserved traditional vegetables, medicinal plants and different varieties of trees on his farm.
He followed traditional methods to store paddy seeds, exposing the harvested crop to sunlight and dew for a week before keeping the seeds in heated bamboo containers and baskets made of straw. The method helped the seeds retain their ability to germinate for up to two years.
He followed a seed-exchange system to help other farmers. Those who received seeds from him had to return the same quantity after the next cultivation season instead of paying money.
Raman represented Keralam’s farming community at an international biodiversity conservation conference involving 11 countries in Hyderabad in 2011. In recognition of his contribution to conserving indigenous plant varieties and promoting environment-friendly farming, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2023.
He had earlier received several honours, including the National Plant Genome Saviour Award in 2016.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan condoled his death, describing Raman as a guardian of Wayanad’s agricultural heritage who preserved traditional rice varieties for future generations.
“Through his life, he showed the world that farming was not merely a means of livelihood but also a responsibility towards the soil and nature,” Satheesan said in a condolence message.
The CM said Raman’s life had helped pass on the value of seeds, soil and farming to the younger generation.
Satheesan expressed happiness that the government had been able to present Raman with the first Oommen Chandy Memorial Agricultural Award, announced on the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam after the UDF government assumed office.
Raman’s death was an irreparable loss to Keralam’s agricultural sector and the preservation of its heritage, the Chief Minister said, adding that keeping alive the hope carried by the seeds Raman had protected would be the greatest tribute to him.
(PTI News)
